Before you decide to run (or if that’s too strenuous for you – walk!) to join a gym consider the following. First off, determine what exactly is your aim in joining a gym? – general fitness, to tone / bulk up. Sometimes various short-term goals such as a family occasion e.g. wedding, or getting in shape for a sporting event will ensure more of a constant use and enjoyment of your full gym membership.
What type of gym membership do you want, or need in fact? - don’t be too quick to pay the full membership fee, would off-peak times suit you better? Is there a one-off joining fee as well as monthly fees? What is / is not included in the basic membership cost? What is the minimum contract period? How much is it to bring a non-member? If gyms do a short term membership, it may be more expensive, but well worth using in the ‘short-term’ when you feel you really need to get yourself into shape for a couple of weeks, then leave it for a few months, especially in the summer, when you can go out jogging or cycling. The majority of gyms will also offer a free trial membership of one or two sessions. This will help you to get the feel of the place.
What facilities are you REALLY going to use? Will you avail of the pool, spa, fitness classes and personal trainers, or will you only need the basic exercise machines and weights? If you intend not to partake in the frills perhaps there may be a reduction in the membership fee. Be sure to visit a few gyms to compare the facilities and services during a quiet and a busy period. What are the opening & closing times? Is there car parking? What changing facilities are there? What (fitness) classes do they have? Are members carrying towels? Is the centre clean, in particular the shower and pool areas? Have a quick look around to see if any equipment is out of order, if it’s new or well-maintained.
Ideally, visit the gym at the time of day you intend to work-out. That way you’ll see how busy it is, or if there is a wait for machines, or even for assistance from the staff. Are there professionally qualified fitness instructors there and what qualifications do the gym staff have? Padraig Murphy of Evolvfitness, “Ensure that there are adequate staff on the floor to deal with any queries you may have. If you are getting a tour ask the sales person if you can talk to a gym staff member. See how long it takes for them to arrive and are they confident, polite, friendly and knowledgeable?”
Ask about assessment programmes and the presence of qualified instructors. “Before you join you will be paying a fee; therefore you should get customer service. If you buy a car and the wheels fall off you bring it back to the garage. ‘We pay and join a gym but no one comes near us’ – this is not good enough. Demand a programme and find out when you will get your next one. You should change your programme every four to eight weeks, this prevents boredom. Remember it is about YOUR goals not theirs, and the trainers must apply a training routine for you to achieve this”, says Murphy.
Get a friend to join with you. You’ll then be able to encourage each other to actually go to the gym, as well as support each other during the work-out. Or better still, does a friend train in the gym and would he get a discount for introducing you to the gym? Be realistic about your goals and what it is you wish to achieve. Don’t become Genghis Khan, gung ho-like seven days a week that will end all too quickly. Take your time and use logic: what is my goal? How many times a week can I train and how much time can I spend training? If this is only two days a week that’s fine and don’t let anyone tell you differently. Murphy adds.
Choose a gym that is on your way home from work, some people make the mistake of going home after work but when you get home, you get distracted, and before you know it you are down in front of the TV and you’re muttering ‘I’ll go tomorrow’. The gym must make you want to return on a regular basis. If it doesn’t, chances are you aren't going to stick it out and you will eventually just stop going altogether. If a traditional gym isn’t for you, you can always consider setting up a home gym where you can get complete workouts all in the privacy of where you live.
